Tag: orchids

Bromeliad Plants: Matricide is Natural?

A Classic Bromeliad by Starbright
Aechmea fasciata
A Bromeliad Classic by Starbright
Guzmania Rana

Bromeliads are members of a plant family containing over 3000 species.  The most well known bromeliad is the pineapple.  People have been using bromeliads for thousands of years for food, shelter and ceremonies by civilizations such as Incas, Maya and Aztecs.  Europeans were introduced to the pineapple when Spanish conquistadors returned with the pineapple.  The image of the pineapple became so popular that it was adapted into European art, sculpture, furniture and architecture.

The most popular office and house plant varieties are Aechmea fasciata (Silver-Vase, Urn Plant) and Guzmania Rana.

In general they are ideal indoor plants requiring very little care.  The mother plant will generally only produce one bloom in its lifetime.  Once it blooms it will produce new plantlets called “pups”. These pups will feed on the “mother” plant until they are large enough to set roots of their own and survive as a separate plant. The mother has done her job and will die off.  The green, leafy top of a pineapple is in fact a pup that may be removed and planted to start a new plant.

It can take a few years for the plant to reach mature blooming size. Once the plant reaches maturity you can force the plant to flower by placing the plant in a clear plastic bag and throw a ripe apple inside the bag for 7 to 10 days. The ripe apple will give off ethylene gas and will help force the plant to flower.

1)      Sunlight: bright indirect sun.  Ideally placed around windows with blinds.

2)      Water: Keep the soil evenly moist.  Watering once to twice a week is sufficient. DO NOT USE A METAL WATERING CAN.  THE METAL IS TOXIC TO BROMELIADS AND WILL KILL THEM.

3)      Temperature: Indoor temperatures are perfect for Bromeliads.

Replanting the Pups: Once a pup reaches one-third the size of the mother plant gently tug and separate the two plants.  If the pup doesn’t pull away easily cut it where it attaches to the mother plant. Before potting your new plant, let the cut area dry out by letting it sit for a day (not in the sun). Using a mixture of peat moss and prelate pot up the bromeliad cutting into a small pot (do not over pot) and follow the instructions above. If all the potting and work sounds too much to handle ask Star bright about our Plant Care Services or do nothing and enjoy the plant as is.

These tips are brought to you by The Official Florist.  The Official Florist is the blogging arm of Starbright Floral Design.  We are a full-service corporate and retail florist located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District.  We are at 150 West 28th Street (Studio 201).  To learn more about our organization and about the type of work that we do, please  visit our website at www.starflor.com.  You may also order a gift by visiting our e-portal at www.starbrightnyc.com. Starbright is open seven days a week and we deliver flowers and other gifts in Manhattan and worldwide.  We invite you to give us a call or visit our website.

Thank you for visiting our blog.  Always “at your service”,

The Official Florist – Starbright Floral Design

“The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps”

t.800.520.8999

starflor.com

 

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS AND HOW TO KEEP THEM

Happy New Year!

It’s that time of year again.  Time for introspection and goal setting for self-improvement.  Time for our New Year’s resolutions destined to fail.  All of us at Starbright are here to help.  Here are a list of the Top 9 New Year’s resolutions and our guidance in successfully accomplishing them.  Think of it as public service announcement…

1. Lose Weight and Get in Better Physical Shape

Everyone knows the benefit of physical activity to one’s health.  A suggestion to help accomplish this very important, perhaps lifesaving, goal.  When ordering your flowers and/or gift baskets think about coming by in person rather than telephonically or via internet.  Centrally located in the flower district we are walking distance to Times Square.  For an added benefit try using the stairs as we are located on the second floor.

2. Find My Soul Mate

Romance is alive and well as more and more people are looking for that special someone, their soul mate who lights their fire, the ONE whom they love unequivocally and who shares their worldview.   This one is easy.  What’s better received by a romantic interest than a beautiful bouquet of flowers by Starbright (with an added benefit-zero calories)?

3. Find a Better Job

A new year provides a sense of getting a free do-over, so you can try again and get it right. Many people resolve to find better jobs or to take a new approach to the jobs they’ve already got.   What better way to help a friend take the leap of faith than with delivery of flowers and/or gift baskets with an encouraging message attached.  Disregard this resolution if your friend is a concierge at one of the many hotels who choose Starbright for their needs.

4. Stick to a Budget

Many people find it very difficult to stick to a budget. It does take hard work and a lot of self-discipline, at least in the beginning.   Again we are here to help with a helpful suggestion.  Come the New Year send yourself a regularly scheduled weekly arrangement with a motivational reminder on the message card such as “STICK TO YOUR BUDGET BUT DON’T FORGET TO STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES”.

5. Get Organized

Resolve this year to plan your days, reduce interruptions, and clean off your desk.   The benefits of getting more organized include being able to save time, as you no longer look for the same things over and over again or need to replace things you can’t find at all.  Starbright is here to motivate.   Just think how beautiful any of our wide array of floral arrangements would look on your freshly organized desk or clutter free home.

6. Enjoy More Quality Time with Family & Friends

Resolve to spend more quality time with family and friends this year.   This one is easy as well.  Starbright offers quick and courteous delivery with the purchase of any of our products allowing you to spend quality time with loved ones.

7.  Go Green

More and more people are resolving to “Go Green”.  Starbright is all over it.  As one of the largest retailers in NYC we have a large collection of green flowers.  Including Hydrangea, Jade Roses, Bells of Ireland, Spider Mums and Cymbidium Orchids.  However, our designers would urge you to accent these green flowers with others such as red/yellow/pink Roses, Tulips, Lilies, Carnations etc.

8.  Passion

Resolve to become more passionate.  No doubt an amiable goal in life is to attack every day with love and youthful enthusiasm.  What leisurely pursuit can be more rewarding than creating a thing of beauty such as a bouquet of flowers.  Starbright is open to the public seven days a week.  Come tour our facility and pick out the flowers that light that passionate fire within you.  Along the way our designers will happily give you suggestions and/or assistance as you need it.  Come choose from a multitude of roses, lilies, orchids, tulips, peonies.  Anything your passionate heart desires we have it.

9.  Decrease Stress

Resolve to lower your stress and the stress of the people around you.  It is impractical to send people you love fish tanks filled with fish.  According to a recent MSNBC article flowers are the new fish tank.  Fish have been shown to lower stress levels in people who don’t fear being confined in small places.  Getting lost in the beauty of colorful floral arrangement has been shown to lower the stress level in all.  Send more flowers to those you love and encourage them to send you flowers.  Your health depends upon it!  Starbright Floral Design (800) 520-8999 (the 911 for stress relief).

Just jump on Facebook and give us some of your New Year’s Resolutions and our team of floral designers (humanitarians) will endeavor to suggest ways on how Starbright can help.

 

Starbright Floral Design is the “Official Florist of Romance” and  we deliver flowers, love, passion and hope everywhere in Manhattan and worldwide.  Now we deliver on New Year’s resolutions too!

 

Give us a call, visit our website or pop on in!  We would love to meet you….

 

Passionately yours,

 

The Official Florist

 

Starbright Floral Design

 

Located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District

150 West 28th Street, Studio 201.

T. 800.520. 8999

Web: www. starflor.com

E-commerce portal: www.starbrightnyc.com

 

 

Sending Flowers – How a Romantic Man Should…

Lavish her with flowers of the season...
It is amazing how you will be remembered by the flowers you send!

Well this is the second time I am writing on this subject as the first article that was written and met an overwhelmingly positive response.  Ka-billions of folks read it.  So without trying to rewrite the same article over again, I wanted to offer up a different perspective.

GUYS – your interest in a woman should be shown on many different levels.  Women notice little things and they will catch not only your little mistakes but also the little things that you do right.  So make your flower purchases part of what you do right.  Blow her away with the unexpected!

Here are some ideas to think about (I called them “rules” and then changed to “ideas” because there really are no “rules”):

Don’t send flowers only on the typical flower holidays (birthday, anniversary, Valentine’s, etc.).  If you limit your flower sending to just those types of days, you look predictable.  You appear as though you only send flowers because you could not figure out what else to do.  I am not saying NOT to send flowers on those occasions, but mix it up.  “Just because” is the BEST reason to send flowers of all.  If you do not have the budget to send flowers on the special days and on the non-special ones, then skip the birthday (do something else) and send flowers on one beautiful August morning with a note that says “I love you” or “Cannot stop thinking of you”!  It will mean a lot more because it is so unexpected and who does not want to be surprised?

Secondly, FORGET the dozen roses!  Again, roses make you look predictable (“ah just send her a dozen roses, all women love roses”… yada, yada).  Be a flower connoisseur (or at least look like one).   What is her favorite color?  Purple?  Then make her a bouquet of “everything purple” and so on.  Spend time with your florist in person or on the phone.  If your florist is unwilling to educate you and won’t spend time with you to share his love of flowers, then find a different florist.  Certainly if you come to Starbright (www.starflor.com) we would love to share our passion with you and you will walk away with a Bachelor’s in Romance!  Learn the names of flowers, learn how long they last, what is in season, and so on.

You want to keep things interesting.  Imagine that if you send her peonies or hydrangea she will for the rest of her life remember only you when she sees this flower.  If you send roses (I hate to say this) but how many men do you think will come to mind?  Do you stand a chance of standing out?  Send interesting and unusual flowers!  There are enough varieties and colors for you to select from that you will never have to send the same flowers twice even if you send flowers ever week for an entire year.  Invest a little bit of time and your education will more than pay off.

Lastly, all these e-romance websites can claim all they want about having the best track record for bringing people together, making the most compatible matches and so on… While I cannot statistically prove this, I will claim that the following is true:

Send flowers to someone you love and the scent of the flowers will remind them of you for a very long time.  Flowers do keep romances alive, they make men sensitive and keep couples in love.  Make flowers your secret weapon and the special person in your life will be there forever.

Falling in love, Starbright Style is a truly unique experience.  We deliver fresh flowers daily anywhere in Manhattan or around the world.  Starbright is a full service florist and flower delivery service located on 28th Street in New York City in the heart of “New York City’s Historic Flower District.  Visit us at 150 West 28th Street (2nd floor), call us at 800.520.8999 or you can visit our website at www.starflor.com to gain a much broader perspective on the work that we do.

Starbright Floral Design is the most reviewed and highest rated florist in Manhattan (by Citysearch) and also was voted the Best Florist in our area for your wedding as voted by The Knot (dot com).

“The Official Florist of the City That Never Sleeps” is also “The Official Florist of Romance”.

With love,

The Official Florist

Starbright Floral Design

150 West 28th Street, Studio 201, New York City.

Telephone: 800.520.8999

WEB address: www.starflor.com

E-Commerce Portal: www.starbrightnyc.com

Having a Corporate Flower Policy

Flowers are great for business!
Flowers bring appreciation, create strong bonds and boost morale.

Are you in Human Resources?  Perhaps an Office Manager? Perhaps you are the owner of a small to medium-sized firm?

Does your company like to send gifts to clients and employees alike?  Is it a cost that is outside of your normal budgets and you cannot seem to get a handle on how much money is being spent on flowers and related gifts?  If so, read on!

Starbright Floral Design (www.starflor.com) has helped many companies organize their gift giving so that it is both fair and a controlled expense.  Our clients send the occasion-appropriate gift and they always do so with great savings.  Here  is what you need to do:

  1. Pick ONE florist to do all your business with.  We would like it to be Starbright, but even if it is not, you still want to use one source and become one florist’s good customer.  It makes no sense to go to the yellow pages or to the  internet and say “gee, I wonder which florist I will pick today”.  By having one vendor you know that this person will take care of you.  You are an important client to the florist and you will get a few extra flowers, an upgrade and even issues that arise are more likely to be resolved in your favor.
  2. Standardize your occasions (both for employees and clients).  Do you want  to send gifts for maternity? sympathy? promotion? anniversary? get well? birthday?  If you know in advance what occasions automatically call for a flower gift, then there is no thought involved (should we do it? should we not?).  It is a task that has been pre-decided, delegated and the vendor has been pre-selected.
  3. Do you classify your team?  Executives, front line employees, new hires, etc. Do you want to plan on a certain expense for floral gifts based on an employees title?
  4. What about budgets? Typically in a Flower Policy, you will see something like: Sympathy – $125, Births – $75, Get Well – $50 and so on.
  5. You may also want to consider other offerings besides flowers that your local florist may have like Fruit and Gourmet Baskets, Plants, Orchids, Stuffed Animals, Balloons, and so much more.  The greater the specificity in your policy the more standardize the procedure becomes and the greater the chances of success.

Flowers are a great way to boost employee morale and a Flower Policy will take the guess-work out of the equation.  Oh! There is one added benefit – EVERYONE gets treated equally!  Imagine if one assistant sends a $75 get-well arrangement and the next assistant a $40 one! Employees talk… Employees wonder… Flower Policies are great!

Now that you have decided that you need a flower policy all of us at Starbright will be thrilled to help you write one and to work with you so that your program becomes a success.  We have helped many small and large, local and international organizations benefit from our experience  in this area.  Whenever  you have a free moment, please feel free to visit our website at www.starflor.com or our gift-giving portal at www.starbrightnyc.com.  All of us at Starbright will be thrilled to have the opportunity to be of service to you.

With our warmest regards,

 

The Official Florist

NOTE: You can also find us on Facebook!

Starbright Exclusives…

Our new designs are here! Introducing the Starbright Exclusives…

We invite you to visit our website at www.starflor.com and once on our site click on the giant “G” for gifts.  There is an entire section devoted to Starbright Exclusives.  (It is listed on the top left).  In this section you will see new, modern and unique gift ideas that were created at our own design table.

Apple Lime Ice

These gift selections are not part of a mass catalog that any FTD-type florist can recreate.  Rather they are bespoke and created with individuality and to your taste.  The Starbright Exclusives section is a line of floral gifts that is available in New York City (within our own delivery area) and in most major markets where  we have developed strong partnerships with florists that adhere  to the same principles of design and customer service that we do.  This is a group of stores that has developed a code of standards that exceeds the typical flowers by wire environment.  By placing your flower order with us, you know that your request is in great hands and your gift will always be delivered just as you requested. Click on THIS LINK to see all our unique designs.

What is even more  fun, is that as our designs are being rolled out we are giving our clients the opportunity to name the arrangements!  Every time we are about to add a design to our collection, we will post the photo on our Facebook page and we will ask our fans (over 1600 at the present moment) to submit their ideas of  what we should call each composition.  Names have been created like “Purpleberry Lady”, “Orchid Alleycat” and “Apple Lime Ice” and they have all come from our friends and fans.

Exotic orchids, amazing calla lillies, elegant presentations of spring flowers and the most modern presentations imaginable are all there.  Have a look at our collection (CLICK HERE) and have a look.  We hope you find the presentations to be both refreshing and an interesting alternative  to common flowers!

Starbright Floral Design is a leading floral organization in the New York Metropolitan Area with our studio located in the Historic Flower District on 28th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues.  We have been honored by our audience as the most reviewed florist in New York City (consistently earning five stars), recognized by Citysearch and The Knot as the top florist in New York City for 2009 and 2010.

Flowers, Festivals and Celebrations.  It is what we do!
Cheers, Nf

Find us online, give us a call (800.520.8999) or stop on by.  We would love to meet you!

Plant Care Series – Your Yucca Plant

Here we are again, this time we will talk about a great houseplant.  The yucca.  It is a lush green plant that generally grows on a bark.  It is found outdoors in the Southern California type of climates but is also a great houseplant pretty much in any climate or environment.

The Yucca is a very easy plant to take care of and you should give it with confidence even to those that do not have much of a green thumb.  It will thrive in almost any office environment, home or apartment.  Here are a few simple tips that you should know about the plant you have or that you are thinking of buying:

It loves the sun!  A yucca will thrive in direct sunlight. The sun promotes the growth of the plant.  By its very nature the Yucca is a slow growing plant.  In a not-well-lit area the plant will remain green and it will not lose it lushness.  However, it will not grow much at all.  If you want to see your plant grow, give it sun!

If you can, take your plant out of doors in the summertime.  Leave it in a back porch, a balcony or even a fire escape.  If you cannot do this, the plant will be fine.  But it does love basking in the sun.  By the same token, because the Yucca recognizes the seasons, if at all possible, give it a chillier than room temperature environment in the wintertime.  By no means am I talking about freezing!

Most people kill their houseplants by over-watering!  Do not bother your plant every five  minutes with water and nutrients!  The top layer of the soil must be completely dry before you add water.

When you do water the plant, pour the water slowly so that it does not drain straight through the pot.  You want the moisture to seep into the soil and become very moist.  So watering your Yucca is a slow process.  Stop watering when your plant’s soil cannot absorb any more water and drops of water start coming out the bottom drain of your pot.

When you have watered your plant, leave it alone until the top half inch is granular.  How long this will take and with what frequency your plant will need to be watered depends on your environment.  In dry/warm rooms the plant will need to be watered more often.

Transplanting your Yucca (from the greenhouse or florist’s plastic pot) into a decorative pot.  Because the Yucca tends to be top-heavy (do to its leaf structure), you need to maintain a low center of gravity so that the plant does not tip over.  To accomplish this, you will need to select a heavy clay pot or a ceramic pot.

Next, make sure  your pot has good drainage.  The bottom layer of the pot should be either broken clay fragments or about two inches of gravel.  This will permit the excess water to run through.  It is also a good practice to put a screen above the gravel and below the  soil.  This will ensure that the  soil and the stones do not become one (and potentially a cement mixture!).

That’s about it for your Yucca!  Sit back and enjoy!

A Word About Starbright Floral Design: Starbright is a full-service florist and floral delivery service.  We are located on 28th Street in Manhattan (between 6th and 7th Avenues).  Our studio is on the Second Floor at 150 West 28th Street.  Besides offering worldwide delivery of flowers, plants and all types of related gifts; we are also a premiere florist for events, corporate accounts and weekly flowers.  Users of CitySearch.com voted Starbright the Best Florist in Manhattan for 2009 and The Knot selected us as the Wedding Florist in Manhattan too!  To learn more about us, the type of work that we do and investigate your inspirations, we invite you to visit our website at www.starflor.com.  See you there!

For the Orchid Enthusiast…

A double stemmed purple phaleonopsis orchid

Orchids give us so much majesty and beauty that they sometimes are intimidating and we feel that we cannot take proper care of them, or that we do not have a “green enough thumb” to be able to care for an orchid.  We shy away from the most majestic flowering plant simply because we do not feel competent or capable of caring for it.   Well for all the glory that orchids give, they do not ask for very much in return.  Here is a primer on orchids to help you over the initial fear…

FIRST – Come to Starbright (or any other reputable florist in your area) and purchase a Phaleonopsis orchid plant.  They come in a variety of colors but the most basic white or pink will do.  Remember that you are not buying this orchid as an expert or as a connoisseur, but rather as a novice trying to learn and to gain confidence that the plant can actually survive around YOU!

When you go home, place your orchid plant in a brightly lit room, but away from direct sunlight.  The orchid loves to bask in the sun but the more sun you give it the faster the blooms will open and eventually lose their petals.  You want a room that has sunlight but where the rays of the sun never hit directly on the plant.  Room temperature is fine.  In most cases if you are comfortable so is your plant.  This holds true for ANY plant (for the most part).   Also try to keep you plant away from sudden drafts.  A burst of cold air or hot air will certainly not help the orchid at all.

So far it is pretty simple, right?

Now make sure (at least for your first orchid) that you have a pot with good drainage.  Most orchids (phaleonopsis for certain) do not live in a swamp and if the water sits in the pot and does not drain, you are killing your plant.   So make sure that your pot allows excess moisture to escape.

Lastly – do not bother your plant.  The less you do for your orchid the more it will give back.  This is because there is not much that you can really do to care for the plant and in reality the plant requires very little care.  Water is about the only thing that it needs.

My advice to folks is instead of water; give your orchid ice cubes.  That is right – ICE CUBES.  Why?  Well for one, because when ice melts it becomes water.  It is a slow watering process because the ice melts slowly and it allows for the roots of the orchid to drink the water as opposed to the water running through the plant.  You also do not run the risk of the water ever building that swamp I mentioned earlier at the bottom of the pot.  So your orchid will get the water it needs and it will never be too much.  In most cases if the environment is not too hot or too dry, a handful of ice cubes a week will do.

Eventually the blooms on the plant will begin to wilt.  As they do, clip them off because they are unsightly.  As time goes on all the blooms will have opened and they will all have wilted. Eventually there will be nothing left but a bare stem.  Depending on what stage you had purchased your orchid in (how many blooms were open already, etc), this process should take no less than three weeks and in many cases an orchid will last over two months.

At the end of that period you should feel confident that orchids can in fact survive around you!  Hopefully you found enjoyment in caring for a live plant that gave beauty every day.  Now it is time to experiment!  No time to lose…

What do I do with that long stem that is bare and just sticking out of my pot?

Can I get my orchid to re-bloom?

What other orchid varieties are there?

What colors can I get?

Where do orchids come from?

There is a whole new world out there ready for you to explore!  It is a lot of fun and you can delve into it as much or as little as you want to.  Short of being a professional “orchidologist”, there are orchid clubs you can join, websites and books you can read from and there are even artists and photographers who have become known around the world simply because of their love for this magnificent plant.

You can go as far as you want to, or you can stay close to home.  Either way, it is a relaxing and enjoyable journey or hobby – depending on how you define it.

Here are two orchid websites that you should consider visiting:

The Orchid Board

American Orchid Society

I have found them to be informative and worthy of your interest.

Do you have a question? Send me a note at nic@starflor.com.  I will always be happy to hear from you and share some thoughts.  You can even visit our website (www.starflor.com) or call us at our store at 800-520-8999.  Reach out to us any way you would like to.  We will always be happy to hear from you and to help however we can.

A little bit about Starbright Floral Design – We are a full service florist located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District (on 28th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues).  We are open every day and most evenings till 8PM (Sunday until 6PM).  We deliver all over the world and can help you in selecting your gift to fit any taste design or budget.

Starbright was voted on Citysearch.com as the Best Florist of New York City in 2009.  We are the most reviewed and highest rated florist in New York.

TheKnot.com has also rated us as The Best Florist in New York City to partner with for wedding and bridal Florals.

We thank you for your support and look forward to hearing from you!

Find us on Facebook!

A Valentine Tradition

Just one of our red roses...

St. Valentine’s Day is only three days away.   The red rose invokes the passion of the season and as I was walking in the store today,  I took a random photo of one of the 8,000 roses that were in the background.  I hope you like it and I hope it and all the other red roses in our store make every Valentine a Happy Valentine!

About Starbright Floral Design… We are a full service florist located in Chelsea.  We are in the middle of Manhattan’s Wholesale Flower District and we deliver flowers in our city and all over the world.  Give us a call at 800.520.8999 or visit our website at www.starflor.com – We will be thrilled to hear from you and happy to be of service!

http://starflor.com/

Hey Man! Love your flowers!

Pods, hydrangea and orchids

Low geometric vase with Orchids and Calla Lillies

Vanda Orchids and Steel Grass Sculpted in a Rectangular Vase

Whether you’re considering sending your man a gift for Valentine’s Day, a birthday or to congratulate him on scoring that new promotion, flowers can be a wonderful option.  The key is understanding a man’s taste and sending him the right message.  Will tulips tempt him?  Do rose make him rave?  Do orchids send him into overdrive?  Knowing how to present your man with the perfect arrangement can be a challenging proposition.  Unless you take advice from your favorite florist, that is!

Flowers have a perception of being feminine, soft, romantic and altogether un-manly.  Taking this into account, you have two options.  Either you can embrace the feminine quality of the flowers or you can ask their floral designer to highlight the masculine shapes and features of the florals being sent.

If you chose to embrace the feminine qualities of the flowers being sent, it’s important to still keep in mind a man’s taste and sensibilities.  Sending a pale pink bouquet of sweet peas may not be the best approach.  Instead, mix bold colored blooms with scented flowers that just might trigger memories of your favorite perfume.  Freesia, stock, and lilies can create a fragrance profile sure to lift his libido.  If the flowers are appealing to his nose as well as to his eyes, mission accomplished!

Romance is inherent when it comes to flowers.   Red roses have always signified the height of passion in the world of flora.  While roses have always been popular, when trying to impress your man, send don’t send him the standard vase of red roses.  Let us get creative.  Why not send a modern pave of red roses in a moss lined vase?  Or perhaps we can whip together a tight cluster of red roses and burgundy cymbidium blossoms in a silver cube vase.  Embracing the romantic symbolism of the red rose is very practical.  Even wiser is using this powerful bloom to full advantage and appealing to the male sensibility.

If it’s imperative the blooms you are sending have a masculine vibe, ask us for a simple, modern arrangement.  Men tend to dislike flowers that are too fussy or overdone.  Clean lines and architectural details are elements that are more likely draw a man’s appreciation.  Ask your florist to create a swirl of darkly colored mini calla lilies.  Or perhaps a simple hand tied bouquet of leopard spotted Mokara orchids would make your man’s day.  Using elements such as stones or metal wire can add a very rustic and manly esthetic to even the most delicate of blossoms.

Between your knowledge of your man’s taste and the help your florist should provide, the perfect floral gift is just a phone call away.  Call us at Starbright and we’ll be happy to help you create something truly special for that special guy.

ABOUT STARBRIGHT FLORAL DESIGN – We are a full service florist located in the heart of New York City’s historic flower district.  Our studio is located on 28th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues.  You can learn all about the work that we do at www.starflor.com or by calling us at 800.520.8999.  We deliver our floral designs in Manhattan and around the world.  Give us a call for the most exquisite blooms you can imagine!

Roses – Creativity, Style and Love

A Sphere of Black Magic Roses
A lavander phaleonopsis orchid plant
A clutch bouquet of miniature calla lillies

Tom S. is our Creative Director and the Arbiter of Style for Starbright.  Tom sees into the future and keeps our design styles ahead of the curve.  For Valentine’s Day 2010 he has some thoughts to share and has written the article below… Enjoy!

As Valentine’s Day quickly approaches, I stop to ponder Gertrude Stein’s famous quote, “A rose is a rose is a rose.”  During this time of year, our store is inundated with requests for red rose arrangements.  It is not atypical to have over 15,000 long stem red roses in our fridge during the week of Valentine’s Day.  While roses are gorgeous and will always remain a popular declaration of one’s love and devotion, I have to agree with Stein.  A rose really IS a rose.

Luckily, we are prepared with other creative and unique options that should appeal to most couples.  Why limit yourself to a vase of red roses?  During the Valentine season, the price of roses can be shocking.  Our wholesale cost goes up, supplies of the best roses become scarce and customers can see that reflected in the price of a dozen roses.  Instead of roses, consider sending a lush, hand tied nosegay of eggplant colored calla lilies.  With their sculptural shape that has been eroticized by artists such as Georgia O’Keefe and Robert Mapplethorpe, calla lilies should evoke a passionate response from any recipient.

Orchids are another option that will both delight and inspire.  The exotic shapes, textures and colors of the orchid speak to the tropical fantasies of many lovers.  During the winter months, wouldn’t it be wonderful to remind your loved one of your past trip to the islands?  Perhaps the flowers will help to promote a future trip.  One benefit of orchids that can not be overstated is their longevity.  While long stem roses typically last an average of five days, fresh cut orchids will remain lovely for up to two weeks.  An orchid plant can last months, and they are deceptively easy to care for.  For a masculine approach to the orchid, a floating cymbidium stem artfully arranged inside a glass cylinder is a very modern choice. This option is long lasting and costs about $25 less than a dozen roses.

If your other half is more traditional and may be disappointed if they don’t receive roses, let us become creative to come up with a special mixed arrangement.  Rather than the typical tall vase, try a tight and compact cube arrangement.  Not only will the flowers be easier to bring home, they will last longer!  Low and lush arrangements are a modern trend and appeal to most discerning costumers.  Hydrangea, tulips, and roses make a romantic mix certain to please even the most persnickety lover. Because the roses are being added to other flowers, the cost will be significantly less then a solo vase of roses.  While cost is often not the deciding factor when choosing a gift for someone special, in these times it is very nice to have some economical options.

As a floral designer, my opinion of roses may be negatively influenced by the scars and calluses I’ve acquired from years of Valentine’s Day thorns.  However, I have the unique opportunity to see the wide of variety of flowers available to customers during this romantic holiday.  While roses are certainly the star of the show, there are many flowers that are waiting in the wings for their moment to shine.  No matter what, when the flowers are sent with love, they transcend and aspire to more than Stein’s observation.  “A rose is a rose is a rose…” unless it comes from you!

About Starbright Floral Design: We are located in New York City in the heart of the historic flower district.  We are in a loft on the second floor of our building on 28th Street, right by Seventh Avenue.  We deliver to all of New York City ourselves (and beyond).  This holiday season we have some amazing Valentine’s styles for you to choose from.  Give us a call (800.520.8999), stop by (150 West 28th Street, Suite 201) or visit our website (www.starflor.com)